C.—2.

The results did not come up to expectations, so it was decided to cease operations on the 14th July pending the result of a geophysical survey of the claim. A seismic survey was carried out by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. From the data obtained by this survey it has been decided to continue the Dip Drive, started from the 1,193 ft. level of the main incline shaft, to the north-east and thus prospect the deep ground lying to the east. This further work will prove the value of the Wetherstones field. Work had not been resumed at the end of the year, but it is expected that operations will be resumed shortly. Twenty-three men were employed until operations ceased in July. Mr. R. S Thompson, of Wetherstones, is now sluicing and elevating on his freehold land adjoining the old Wetherstones School grounds. Five men were employed (Mr. Walker, manager). Paddy's Point Gold-mining Co., Forsyth (R. Webb, Manager).—Work has been carried out continuously throughout the year in the freehold land" alongside the Lawrence-Waitahuna Main Road. On account of the shallow ground a large area has been sluiced and elevated. Seven men were employed, the gold won amounting to 363 oz., valued at £2,584. The total yield of gold since operations commenced amounts to 2,378 oz., valued at £14,110. " The Sailors Gully Sluicing Co., Waitahnna (A. W. Eaton, Manager).—Sluicing and elevating operations have been continued. The plant was removed from the western section to the eastern reef section in the old Scandinavian area. Both the high and the low pressure pipe-lines have been renewed with new welded steel pipes. Nine men were employed, the gold won amounting to 409 oz. 5 dwt., valued at £2,956 Bs. 4d. Since operations commenced the yield of gold is 14,594 oz. 12 dwt. 23 gr., valued at £61,780 6s. lOd. The Tallaburn Sluicing Company, Horse-shoe Bend (between Beaumont and Miller's Flat), (W. G. Meyer, Manager). —Sluicing and elevating operations were continued for a yield of 92 oz. 7 dwt. 22 gr., valued at £713 19s. 2d. Two men were employed. The available area of workable ground is practically exhausted. During the year the Riverside Sluicing Co. (N. Matheson, manager) took over the areas held by James Bell and party on the boundary of Block IX, Beaumont Survey District, and Block XII, Tuapeka West Survey District, being partly mining reserve and partly land held by H. T. Paterson, along the left-hand bank of the Glutha or Molyneux River about two miles down river from Beaumont. No gravity water being available, a suction-gas plant was installed to provide water for sluicing and elevating purposes. The plant consists of a "Mather and Piatt" high-pressure pump with a capacity of 2,250 gallons per minute to a head of 160 ft. belt driven by 160 indicated horse-power Twin Tangye gas-engines, the producer gas being generated in a down-draft producer using brown coal for fuel. Mining operations were commenced in September and yielded 123 oz. 1 dwt. 20 gr., valued at £866 12s. Bd. Ten men were employed. During the year the Fifty, Five Gold-mining Co., which took over the areas held by Mclver, Williamson, and party on the banks of the Glutha River on Mining Reserve, Block I, Waitahuna West Survey District, erected a plant to sluice and elevate. No gravity water being available, a suction-gas plant was installed to the necessary water by pumping from the river. This consisted of a Mather and Piatt " Medivane pump with a capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute to a head of 210 ft. belt-driven by a pair of Tangye gas-engines each of 65 indicated horse-power, producer gas being generated in a down-draft producer using brown coal for fuel. The plant was operating for only a short time, and is at present inoperative. Messrs. A and R. Brown continued sluicing and elevating operations at Tuapeka Mouth when water was available to work the low-pressure turbine in the Tuapeka River. \ The Fourteen Mile Beach Gold-mining Co. (A. Donnelly, Manager).—Sluicing and elevating operations were continued during the year when river conditions would allow, but on account of abnormally high river practically 50 per cent, of the working-time was lost. The old workings of Quayle have also been encountered and had to be through. Virgin ground has now been reached. Four men were employed during the working-periods, and the yield was 90 oz. 3 gr., valued at £639 2s. lid. The Molyneux Deep Lead Co. has acquired the area held by W. J. Manuel at Coal Greek, Roxburgh, and the claim was being equipped with the necessary hauling and pumping and treatment plants at the end of the year. A main drive is being driven, and this lead will be mined by driving and blocking-out methods. In addition, 320 men were employed in the Tuapeka County fossicking, prospecting, cradling, sluicing, elevating, driving, and sinking for a yield of 1,619 oz. 3 dwt., valued at £10,274 3s. 9d. The largest producers were R. S. Thompson, Wetherstones, and A. and R. Brown, Tuapeka Mouth. Southland County. Nokomai Gold-mining Co. (C. G. Sew Hoy, Manager).—Drag-line operations were continued until the 12th April, when it was decided to discontinue using the mechanical excavator on account of its unsuitability for the treatment of this deposit. The hydraulic elevator was again installed, and sluicing and elevating methods have been employed since the change-over. Twenty-two men have been employed, and the gold won amounted to 561 oz. 18 dwt. 4 gr., valued at £3,773 3s. sd. King Solomon Deep Lead, Ltd, Waikaia (R. C. Ruffin, Manager).—Successful mining operations have been continued during the year. In the early part of the year the northern section was developed and a rise was put through to the surface, thus providing improved ventilation and a second travelling road for the workers in this and adjoining sections. The rock barrier was encountered to the north-west, and considerable prospect driving has been done in this section. The eastern section was developed later in the year, and the prospectingwork done therein has opened up a large area of fair-grade auriferous wash. During the latter part of the year a considerable amount of driving was done in the southern section for a distance in rather difficult ground, face boards having to be used in places. Blocking-out and stripping has been carried out in the various working sections. The quality of the timbering has been maintained. The drives are all timbered with sets lathed on top and sides where necessary ; the blocking-strips are taken out on blocking-sets close-lathed on top, and when it is necessary to hold the blocked-out ground timber bulk-heads or pigsties are used. Consequently, a large quantity of timber is used during the course of a year, and considerable supplies are now being obtained from the upper Waikaia Bush. This gives employment to a number of contract timber-cutters and lorry-drivers. A second boiler was installed at the surface during the year. This will enable the stand-by electrical plant to operate for a lengthy period should there be a failure of the Southland power now supplying energy for the main shaft and underground electrically-driven pumps. An average of sixty-four men has been employed at the mine during the year. The gold won amounted to 4,501 oz. 12 dwt. 17 gr., valued at £34,598 17s. lOd. The total gold won since the commencement of operations is 13,299 oz. 9 dwt. 8 gr., valued at £88,162 13s. lOd. A. Mutch, Happy Valley, Waikaia. —Four men have been steadily employed in the lower section of Happy Valley sluicing, and elevating a mixed shallow auriferous deposit below the site of the first Waikaia Township. Dome Creek Syndicate (Right-hand Terrace in Mr. Sutton's Run, Dome Creek, Waikaia). —Intermittent sluicing and elevating operations have been carried on during the year. The Union Mining Syndicate (J. Murchison, Manager).—During the year operations were resumed in the upper reaches of the Waikaia River, at the junction of the Waikaia and Little Waikaia Rivers. The syndicate reopened this old mining field. A considerable amount of work was done in reconditioning old water-races, transporting and erecting steel fluming, pipes, and elevator in this remote area. A wing dam is being built in the river, and elevating operations will be commenced early in 1935. Four men were employed. The Upper Dome Creek area has also been prospected during the year by the Nicholson party. The Waimumu Sluicing Co., Ltd. (J. S. Butts, Manager).—This company was formed during the year and took over the plant and equipment of the Terrace Sluicing Co. Another freehold area farther downstream was prospected and the steam pumping-plant was removed to about 30 chains downstream. The water is now

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